How to Run Software Without a Dongle

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USB keys are a great way to protect software products from unauthorized use. Unfortunately, it can be very inconvenient to have the physical dongle present, especially when working in a remote location. There are many instances where having the ability to run your programs without the USB key can boost productivity and make your life easier. We are going to show you how to accomplish this feat simply and reliably. Donglify provides three ways to use software without a dongle.

Share USB dongle over the network

Donglify

Donglify is a software tool that enables you to virtualize a physical security key, eliminating the need to connect it to the computer. Donglify allows remote users to work with the software but without a physical USB dongle. The solution is compatible with current and older versions of the Windows operating system.

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Available on Windows 7/8/10, Windows Server 2012/2016/2019
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Provide remote access to a dongle from within your account

The following steps will enable you to connect a remote machine to the computer that is attached to the physical security key. You can then share access to the dongle, enabling the protected program to run on the remote computer.

  1. Create an account, download, and install Donglify on the local computer which we will refer to as the server. You also need to install the tool on the client machine that requires remote access.
  2. Start Donglify on the server and client computers and log into the software using the same id and password.
  3. Make the device available on the server to enable it to be shared by clients.
    • Connect the dongle to the server.
    • Launch Donglify and click the “Plus” icon.
    • A list of available devices is displayed by Donglify.
    • Check the radio button next to the device you want to provide access to and click “Share”.

If the dongle key can be shared by more than one client simultaneously, you will see the multi-connect icon next to its name.

The multi-connect function currently works with
  1. Start Donglify on a client computer and locate the dongle you want to share and click Connect. The dongle will be recognized by your system as if it had a direct physical connection.
  2. When you are done working with the dongle, click Disconnect on the client machine to end the connection.
Share dongles

Send an invitation to other users

The ability to invite other users to remotely access a security key allows you to control who uses the device while maintaining the privacy of your account credentials. Use the following procedure to send other users invitations to access the dongle.

  1. Configure Donglify on the computer that is physically connected to the device.
    • Connect the dongle to the server.
    • Start Donglify and click the “Plus” icon.
    • A list of available devices is displayed by Donglify.
    • Check the radio button next to the device you want to share and click “Share”.
  2. Once the device is available for remote access, you can send an invitation by typing the email address associated with a valid Donglify account and clicking the “+” icon.
  3. Donglify will display the email address and a Connected message when the user accepts the invitation.
  4. You can disconnect the remote session by choosing the More options icon next to the email address and selecting “Disconnect”.
Share dongles

Share access to a Donglify account with a token

Using a token allows you to share access to your account without exposing your email address and password. Through the use of a secure digital token, a user can log into a Donglify account and obtain access to the software’s functionality. They do not have access to the Donglify account itself and therefore have no details concerning the account’s owner. When a token is deleted, the associated user is immediately logged out of the Donglify account.

Use the following procedure to create a token.

  1. Sign in to your online account on the Donglify website.
  2. Open the Tokens tab and click on the Create Token button.
  3. Select a name for the token and click Create.
  4. You will see the newly created token in the app’s list of available tokens.
  5. Copy the token and send it to a remote user using email, SMS, or other means.

Click the red “X” button next to the token’s creation date to delete it.

  1. Remote users need to follow these steps to use the token to access the available dongle.
  2. Download and install Donglify on their computer.
  3. Launch the program, enter the token, and log into the account.
  4. More than one computer can use the same token simultaneously.
Share dongles
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